4th edition of Egyptian Expats Conference kicks off with big agenda, largest participants number

CAIRO – 31 July 2023: The Ministry of Immigration and Egyptian Expats Affairs launched Monday the fourth edition of the Egyptian Expats Conference, which hosts 1,000 individuals dwelling 56 countries.

Minister Soha Gueindi indicated in a press statement that the current edition is the largest in terms of participants' number, "which reflects their desire to be contact with their homeland and confidence in their state." She added that the event is also a platform for expats to put forward their demands, needs, and suggestions.

That is why the conference comprises representatives of various ministries and state bodies so they would answer inquiries, listen to ideas, study them, and come up with solid projects, programmes, or initiatives.

The minister pointed out that the fourth edition is aimed for building upon the outcomes of the previous edition. Those were exempting expats' cars from tariffs, fees, and taxes; forming a board that would found a shareholding company for expats; offering high-interest products at national banks as well as soft loans; and making discounts on flight tickets and residential units. They have to use a foreign currency when paying for the latter.

The axes of the conference are economic, political and educational, social and service. They were devised through multiple online meetings with a number of expats within an initiative dubbed "An Hour with the Minister."

The opening session is on the efforts deployed by the ministry to fulfill the demands of expats. The first session is on the performance of the Egyptian economy over the past years, and measures taken to promote investment in the country and boost inflow of foreign currencies.

The second session sheds light on the importance of expats' participation in the National Dialogue; the goals of the country's foreign policy and expats role in accomplishing them; measures taken to integrate university students who fled hostile areas; education opportunities for expats at Egyptian public and private universities; and online educational platforms targeted at expat school students.

The third session is dedicated to discussing ways of coordination with the Ministry of Social Solidarity to establish an Egyptian expats fund; provide social and health insurance to them; fly back patients in critical conditions; and transfer dead bodies. The session will also include presentations on the Egyptian expats app, and the social insurance offered to expats.